Stamped metal wheel



y 1939- J H. HUNT STAMPED METAL WHEEL Filed Aug. 16, 1934 INVENTOR. J/varo/d Hum H/j ATTORNEY.

''II/ Fly? BY Fig.1? 4

Patented May 9, 1939 2,157,175

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAMPED METAL WHEEL J Harold Hunt, Lansing, Mich., assignor to M- tor Wheel Corporation, Lansing, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 16, 1934, Serial No. 740,064

4 Claims. (01. 301-9) The present invention relates to stamped metal The front and side walls of the spokes are flared wheels of the spoke type, and is a continuation as clearly shown in Figures I and II. The front in part of my copending application Serial No. Walls of the spokes more nearly approach a radial 676,492, filed June 19, 1933, which matured into plane than does the nave l8. That is to say, the Patent 2,092,975, September 14, 1937. nave is inclined axially to a considerably greater 5 The principal object of the invention is the extent than the front walls of the spokes. This provision of means for strengthening wheels of makes for greater resistance to lateral thrusts. the type referred to against torsional and lateral The rim attaching zone l2 comprises an L- strains. This object is obtained primarily by shaped annulus 2| having a radially extending 3 forming the wheel with an integral rim supportouter portion and an axially extending portion 10 ing annulus at the outer extremities of the forming a rim seat. The radially extending porspokes. The particular formation of the spokes tion of annulus 2| constitutes a peripheral band themselves is also of importance in this connecabout the outer ends of the spokes which forms tion. Preferably the spokes are of channel shape a smooth continuation of the front walls of the l in cross section but of decreasing axial depth spokes. Between the spokes the peripheral band radially outward, terminating in a substantially is bent axially inwardly so that the spokes in fiat radially extending peripheral band portion. eifect have roots pressed from the band. These Illustrative examples of the invention are roots, as shown in Figure II, are of rapidly inshown in the accompanying drawing, wherein: creasing axial depth radially inward. Figure I is a partial side view in elevation of a The inner edges of th S e Wa s Of Spokes I9 20 stamped metal wheel; lie in substantially the same plane as the radially Figure II is a sectional view taken on substanextending peripheral band portion of annulus 2|. tially the line IIII of Figure I; The channel formation of the spokes is of grad- Figure III is a section through a spoke taken ually decreasing axial depth radially outward so 5 on line III-III of Figure I; that they form a smooth continuation of the sub- Figure IV is a section similar to that shown in stantially flat peripheral band. Figure II but of a slightly modified form of con- The construction illustrated in Figures IV and struction; and V is substantially identical to that shown in Figure V is a section through a spoke of Fig- Figures I, II and III, except in the former the ure IV. radially extending portion of the L-shaped rim The wheel illustrated in Figures I, II and III attaching annulus is flatter and of greater radial comprises a one piece stamped metal body ID extent; the spokes are of slightly different cross and a rim I I. The wheel body Ill includes a rim section; the front walls of the spokes are concave attaching zone l2, a wheel attaching zone 3 and instead of convex; the inner edges of the side 5 an intermediate zone I4. walls of the spokes lie in a plane spaced axially The wheel attaching zone consists of a diskinwardly fro the plane of e peripheral band; like attaching flange l5 provided with a large and the annulus 20 is of greater radial extent. central opening l6 surrounded by a plurality of In both forms of construction the rim I is smaller openings ll. When the wheel is mounted preferably attached to the annulus 2| by means on a hub, the hub extends through the opening of rivets 22. Likewise, in both forms of con- 6 and the wheel is attached to the hub by means struction the rim attaching annulus being inof securing studs or cap screws, not shown, which tegral with the spokes at their outer extremities extend through the openings materially strengthens the wheel structure The intermediate zone |4 consists of a deeply against torsional and lateral strains.

dished conical nave I8, spokes l9, and an axially It will be understood that the present inven- 45 extending annulus 20 connecting the nave to the tion is not limited to the illustrated examples wheel attaching flange IS. The nave extends shown and described herein but is coextensive radially outwardly and axially inwardly from the with the scope of the appended claims. annulus 20. The spokes H! are of channel shape I claim:

i cross n, s shown n Fi I, and h v 1. A one piece sheet metal wheel body adapted 50 r ts pr s m the nav H3. The r ots ar to carry the entire wheel load between the rim f radua y i asin ax al d pt r d al y and the hub, said wheel body consisting of a W d a the Spokes Which eXtend therebeyond single stamping including a radially extending are f rad ly decreasing axial ep h r i y bolting on flange, a generally axially extending outward. annular portion projecting from the periphery 55 of the bolting on flange, a disk portion projecting radially outwardly from said annular portion and having a continuous peripheral flange, said disk portion having an annular series of axially extending depressions with a hole formed in the axially innermost portion of each depression, each of said depressions being of gradually increasing axial depth inwardly throughout the radial extent whereby radially extending ribs are formed between the holes which have an axial extent at the radially inner end at least twice as great as the axial extent at their radially outer end.

2. A one piece sheet metal wheel body adapted to carry the entire wheel load between the rim and the hub, said wheel body consisting of a single stamping including a radially extending bolting on flange, a generally axially extending annular portion projecting from the periphery of the bolting on flange, a disk portion projecting radially outwardly from said annular portion and having a continuous peripheral flange, said disk portion constituting substantially the radial outer half of the wheel body, said disk portion having an annular series of axial extending depressions with a hole formed in the axially innermost portion of each depression, the radial extent of the holes being substantially one-half the radial extent of the disk portion, each of said depressions being of gradually increasing axial depth inwardly throughout their radial extent whereby radially extending ribs are formed between the holes which are of substantially greater axial extent at their radially inner extremities than at their radially outer extremities.

3. A one piece sheet metal wheel body adapted to carry the entire wheel load between the rim and the hub, said wheel body consisting of a single stamping including a radially extending bolting on flange, a generally axially extending annular portion projecting from the periphery of the bolting on flange, a disk portion projecting radially outwardly from said annular portion and having a continuous peripheral flange, said disk portion constituting substantially the radial outer half of the wheel body, said disk portion having an annular series of axially extending depressions with a hole formed in the axially innermost portion of each depression, the radial extent of the holes being substantially one-half the radial extent of the disk portion, each of said depressions being of gradually increasing axial depth inwardly throughout the radial extent whereby radially extending ribs are formed between the holes which have an axial extent at the radially inner end at least twice as great as the axial extent at their radially outer end.

4. In a vehicle wheel of the character described, comprising a tire carrying rim and a supporting web structure therefor fixedly secured to the inner surface thereof and adapted to be removably secured to a. hub, the improvement comprising a web structure having a metallic annulus the intermediate portion of which is bulged axially outward forming a convex surface, a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings formed in the radially outward portion of said convex surface, and portions of said annulus adjacent the radially inward margins of said openings which are depressed axially inward, whereby the edges of said openings are substantially in a plane normal to the axle of the Wheel.

J HAROLD HUNT. 

